Support and container



April 3, 1962 J. H. SHEPLEY 3,028,117

SUPPORT AND CONTAINER Filed Nov. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR N H. $HEPLEY- a; @W

A T'TOR NE Y April 3, 1962 J. H. SHEPLEY SUPPORT AND CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. NOV. 15, 1960 w| hl u nun INVENTOR JOHN H. SHEPLEY 9 4 a: QM

ATTORNEY April 1952 J. H. SHEPLEY 3,028,117

SUPPORT AND CONTAINER Filed. Nov. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN 70K JOHN H. SHEPLEY Qdim A T'TORNE Y United States Patent ()ilice Penns lvania y Filed Nov. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 69,379

Claims. (Cl. 242-129 In an automatic wire tie hay baler, it is conventional to have two tiers operative to tie bands around completed bales. A pair of wire coils are provided, one to supply each tier. Such coils are mounted on suitable baler support structure and a lead end wire of each coil extends to one of the tiers. A signal mechanism is provided so that when a given coil runs out of its support, theoperator can go back, remove the remaining piece of wire and rethread the lead end of a new coil through the various guides in the baler structure. To be sure that the wire supply will not become exhausted while baling, necessitating a return to the barn, shed or the like where the wire is stored for a new supply, it is common to carry a spare coil of wire for each tier.

Rethreading the lead end of a new coil of wire in a baler is a difficult task. In most wire tie balers, the needles of the tier mechanism are projectable upwardly from the bottom of the bale case and through the top wall thereof to the tying mechanisms. It is necessary that the wires be threaded upwardly through the bale case. Since the space between the bottom of the bale case and the ground is limited, it is diificult for an operator to get under the baler and rethread the wires. This is particularly true when baling is done at night since a flashlight or the like is required to conduct the threading operation.

The wire coils used in hay balers weigh about one hundred pounds each. Therefore, they are relatively difficult to handle. Usually each coil has straps which hold it together, such straps being removed when the coil is mounted on the baler and made ready for use. When the coil is intact, it fits properly into its support on the baler. However, when the holding straps are removed and as the wire is used up, the coil tends to fall apart on its support and tangled wires sometimes result. Further, if it is desired to remove the unused portion of a wire coil after a baling operation, such is difficult because the wire strands are not strapped together. Also, if the unused portion of the wire coil is from a coil resting in a support box, difliculties result because the lead wire therefrom extends through frame work of the supporting structure and the wire has to be cut to set it free.

One object of this invention is to provide wire support means whereby two or more wire coils may be connected together to supply a single wire tier to insure that the wire will not run out when a baling operation is being performed.

Another object of this invention is to provide reuseable wire containers for each of the coils of wire, the container for the first coil of wire being adapted to be removed after the first coil is exhausted and while the second coil is in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide support means for a pair of wire coils whereby the coils may be connected together to prevent lost baling time,

' Another object of this invention is to provide wire support structure which allows the baler to be loaded with enough wire for a fullday or night of baling, such loading operation being performed before entering the field whereby there is no chance of lost wire tailings, steel tapes and cartons in the field. A

A further object of this invention is to provide a pair 3,028,117 Patented Apr. 3, 1 962 of wire coils connected together to supply a single wire tier whereby night baling can be carried on without requiring a rethreading operation with a possible loss of tools, wire ends and lost time due to a lack of light.

A further object of this invention is to provide wire coil containers which are so constructed that they can be stored one on top of or against the other, successive containers having inter-fitting portions to keep the containers in proper positions relative to each other.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a reuseable wire container which can be removed from a baler with a partially used coil therein whereby the unused portion of the wire can be stored for later use.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic right rear perspective view of a wire tie hay baler having mounted thereon wire support means and reuseable wire containers constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the wire containers;

H6. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of P16. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; 7

FIG. 4- is a side elevation on a scale larger than FIG. 1 but smaller than FIG. 2 showing the wire support means and reuseable wire containers in side elevation mounted on frame structure of the baler; V

FIG. Sis a plan view of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 8 and 10 are vertical sections through a pair of wire containers and showing the manner in which the wire coils are used;

FIGS. 7, 9 and 11 are side elevational views of FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, respectively, further illustrating the operation of the wire containers; and 2 FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 2, on a reduced scale, and showing a wire container constructed according to another embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, and first to FIG. 1, 10 denotes a wire tie hay baler having a bale case 11 and a housing 12 for a pair of wire tiers, not shown, of conventional construction. The baler has an infeed structure housing 14 which receives hay to be baled and contains the mechanism for conveying the hay into the bale chamber 11. As each bale is completed in the baler, it is banded by wire and the co-extended ends of each loop of wire around the bale are tied together. Successive bales are discharged onto the ground or to a trailing wagon.

To supply each wire tier, wire supply means 15 is provided comprising wire coils 16, 18, 20 and 21. Coils 16 and 18 supply one tier; coils 20 and 21 supply the other tier. The coils extend in vertical planes, the axis of coil 18 being common with the axis of coil 16 and the axis of coil 21 being common with the axis of coil 20.

As shown best in FIG. 5 coil 16 has a lead end of wire 22 and a tail end of wire 24. The lead end extends to one of the wire tiers of the baler through guide means 25 (FIG. 1). Tail end 24 is spliced at 26 to the lead end 28 of the coil 18. Coil 18 has a free tail end 29. Coil 2t) has a lead end wire 30 which extends. through the guide means 25 to the other tier of the baler. The tail end 31 of coil 20 is spliced to the lead end 32 of coil 21, the coil 21 having a tail end 34.

Wire coils 16, 18, 2t) and 21 are mounted in removable and reuseable wire containers 35, 36, 38 and 39, respectively. Such containers are preferably made of heavy guage sheet metal, although other material may be employed. All of the containers are of the same construction. Thus, the structure of only one container, namely 3 container 35 for coil 16 will be described. It will be understood that containers 36, 38 and 39 for the other coils are similarly constructed. Like numerals are used on corresponding parts of the various containers.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, container 35 for coil 16 has a front side 48, a rear side 41 and a generally cylindrical peripheral member 42. The side 41 has an annular inturned flange 44 embracing peripheral member 42. The flange is spot welded to the peripheral member to fixedly connect the parts. Side 40 is removably attached to the container, and when removed coil 16 may be placed in the container. Side 48 has an annular inturned flange 45 which surrounds member 42 and is detachably connected thereto by buttons 46 and cotter pin 48. Buttons 46 project outwardly of member 42 and through suitable holes 47 in flange 45. The flange 45 is hooked onto the buttons when side 48 is mounted in place. Then, cotter pin 48 is applied by passing it through holes in tabs 49 on side 40 and ears 58 of the member 42, as shown.

Sides 48 and 41 have coaxial pear shaped openings 51 and 52 for the lead end wire 22 and the tail end wire 24, respectively, of coil 16. The opening 51 is surrounded by a curved arcuate outturned guide 54 over which the lead end wire 22 is slidable when wire is withdrawn from the container.

Means for providing a radial opening is incorporated into container 35. Such radial opening means comprises angularly registering radial slots 55 in sides 4! and 41 and an axial slot 58 in member 42. The radial slots 55 communicate with the openings 51 and 52 and with the axial slot 58. These slots are wider than the diameter of the wire in coil 16 whereby a strand of the coil extending axially through sides 48 and 41 can be removed radially through the slots.

A coil of wire used in baling commonly is banded by three straps spaced one hundred and twenty degrees apart. It is preferable to leave the straps on the coil when the coil is inserted into the wire container and not removed until the coil is in place. Radial openings 53 (FIG. are provided in the peripheral member 42 so that the straps on the coil may be snipped and removed after the coil is in place. The straps do not have to be removed before the coil is placed in the container, insuring against the coil becoming loose and wires becoming tangled.

The reuseable wire containers are mounted on diagonal support beam 60 of the baler, FIG. 1. A coil box 61 is provided to receive the containers. Box 61 has spaced vertical side walls 62 and 64 and end walls 65 and 66, FIGS. 4 and 5. The side walls have arcuate recesses 68 which partially surround and register with the side openings in the wire containers. Each wire container seats in a pocket formed by a base member 70, side brackets 71 and 72, a middle wall 73 and the end walls 62 and 64 of the support box. The bracket 72 is of inverted V-shaped configuration and engages the periphery of all four of the containers. The brackets '71 and 72 provide converging surfaces which along with base member 70 present a three point support for each container. Since each wire coil is relatively heavy, generally around one hundred pounds, a container having a coil seat solidly in its pocket on the support structure.

The utility of the coil arrangement shown, and the use of the wire containers can be seen best from FIGS. 6-11 which show coils 16 and 18 and containers 35 and 36. The coils 2t and 21, and containers 38 and 39 are similarly employed.

With the coils and containers disposed as shown in FIG. 6, a baling operation can be commenced knowing that there is a substantial amount of wire on hand to supply the banding and tying operation. The containers 35 and 36 are preferably mounted with their radial slots 55 and 56 located in an upper position as shown in FIG. 7. The lead end wire 22 extends through the front opening 51 9f Container 35 and to the wire tier. As wire is used up, the coil 16 gradually runs out until a situation as shown in FIG.- 8 occurs. As illustrated, the coil 16 has been completely used up and the coil 18 now operates to supply the wire tier. The supply wire extends from container 36 through the opening 51 therein, then through the rear opening 52 in container 35 and then out through the front opening 51 in container 35. Therefore, it will be seen that even though container 35 is empty, the wire to supply the typing mechanism extends through the side openings therein.

In order that container 35 may be removed and refilled with a new coil of wire, it is necessary to remove the container without disturbing the extension of the wire from the coil 18. This is accomplished as shown in FIG. 9. The empty container 35 is lifted and then rotated about its axis until the radial slots 55 and axial slot 58 assume a lower position as shown. Then, container 35 is lifted from the solid line position to the dotted line position as shown in both FIGS. 8 and 9. The wire extending from coil 18 is passed through the radial slots 55 in the side of the container and through the axial slot 58 in the peripheral portion 42.

After container 35 has been removed, and at an opportune time container 36 is picked up and shifted forwardly to the position vacated by the container 35, FIG. 10. Container 55 is supplied with a new coil of wire 16a by removing front side &8 in placing the new coil therein. When mounted in place, the lead end 22a of coil 16a is spliced to the tail end 28 of the coil 18. The coil 16a has a tail end 24!: which extends rearwardly and to which a subsequent coil can be attached.

It will thus be seen, that a continuous supply of wire is provided for the baler with no rethreading of the baler wire guides being required. When a supply coil in use runs out, a spare coil takes over and the container for the first coil is removed, refilled and then mounted behind the spare coil. The wire containers hold the coils of Wire securely when the wire is being used on the baler and makes it easy for the operator to handle the coils. Further, when a baling operation has been completed, if it is desired to remove Wire from the baler and place it into storage, wire can be removed from the baler and stored while still in the container.

The use of an original and a spare coil of wire for each wire tier and the provision of a support and mounting structure for the two coils with the coils being placed in reuseable wire containers is particularly advantageous in those areas where the baling operation is performed at night, such as in certain areas of the west. An operator can bale for a long period of time without requiring wire supply changes. There is no necessity for tools and flashlights to be used at night in splicing wires together to provide a continuous supply of wire.

Referring now to FIG. 12, another embodiment of this invention is illustrated. The container denoted is the same as the containers previously described, except that the openings in the front and rear sides of the container have cylindrical openings 82, instead of pear shaped openings as previously described. Further, the portions of the side 81 which form radial slot 84 are provided with tabs 85 having openings through which a cotter pin 86 may be projected. The cotter pin 86 closes the radial opening in the container to prevent the wire from being inadvertently moved radially outwardly of the container. To remove container 80 after a given coil has been exhausted, it is necessary to remove the pin 86 to open the radial slots in the container for the passage of the wire extending from the spare container.

With the structure of this invention, no stopping of the baling operation to change wires is required. Sufficient containers can be used to hold enough wire for a full day or a full nights operation. Although two containers are shown in cooperative use to supply each wire tier, it will be apparent that three or more containers could also be used, each container being removed in turn when its particular wire coil is exhausted. All of the containers are of the same construction and they are reuseable. Containers with Wire in them can be removed from the baler for storage and use at a later date. The outturned guides 54 provide inter-fitting means so that when successive containers are mounted one on top of the other the guide 54 on one container can be projected through the rear opening 52 of an adjacent container and thereby provide a nesting stack.

Further, since a very substantial supply of wire is provided for the baler, wire signaling devices are not necessary since the Wire supply never runs out. There is always a supply of wire to supply the tiers and a reverse quantity.

While this invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A reuseable container for a coil of wire comprising side members and a peripheral structure engageable with the sides and periphery of the coil, said side members each having an opening therein through which a free end of said wire may be extended, and means providing a radial opening in the container communicating with said openings in said side members, said means providing a radial opening comprising radial slots in each of said side members and an axial slot in said peripheral structure, said axial slot communicating with said radial slots and said radial slots communicating with said side openings.

2. A reuseable container for a coil of wire comprising a peripheral member and a pair of side members, one of said side members being removable whereby said coil may be placed in the container, said peripheral and side members being engageable with the periphery and sides of said coil and each side member having an opening through which a free end of the wire may be extended, and means providing a radial opening in the container extending from each opening in said side members to said peripheral member and along the full axial length of the peripheral member.

3. A reuseable container for a coil of Wire as recited in claim 2 wherein means is provided for detachably latching said one side to the container.

4. A reuseable container for a coil of wire comprising a generally cylindrical peripheral member, a side member fixedly connected to one axial end of said peripheral member, a side member detachably connected to the other axial end of said peripheral member, each side member having an opening therein through which wire may be withdrawn from said container, means providing a radial opening in the container communicating with each opening in each side member and means for closing said radial opening.

5. Support means for a forward wire coil and a rear wire coil to supply consuming means, said forward wire coil having a forward lead end extending to said consuming means and a rearwardly extending tail end, said rear coil having a lead end connected to the tail end of the forward coil and a tail end extending rearwardly, said support means comprising a forward reuseable container for said forward coil and a rear reuseable container for said rear coil, each container having a front side, a rear side and a peripheral member, said front and rear sides having openings through Which said lead and tail Wire ends extend, respectively, said peripheral member having an axial slot and said front and rear side members having angularly aligned radial slots communicating with said axial slot and with said side openings, whereby when said forward wire coil is exhausted wire will extend from said rear container through said forward container to said consuming means and said forward container may be removed for refilling by passing the extending wire through said radial slots and said axial slots.

6. Support means as recited in claim 5 wherein bracket means is provided for supporting said containers with the openings in the side members thereof coaxial, said radial and axial slots in the container for said forward coil normally being positioned above the opening axes and being adapted to be positioned below the axes when the container is to be removed.

7. Wire supply structure comprising, a support frame extending in a given plane, a pair of pockets in said frame, a pair of generally cylindrical, coaxially disposed, reuseable wire containers mounted on said frame, one in each of said pockets, said wire containers extending generally perpendicular to said plane and each comprising a front side, a rear side and a peripheral portion, said sides each having an axial opening, a coil of wire being mountable in each wire container with the lead end wire of one coil extending through the front wall of one container and the tail end wire of the coil extending through the rear wall, the lead end of the other coil extending through the front wall of the other containers and being connected to the tail end of the one coil whereby when the wire of said one coil is drawn out until exhausted the other coil will provide a supply, such wire extending through the rear and front walls of said one container, and means providing a radial opening in said one container, at least, communicating with said axial openings in the sides thereof whereby the one container may be removed from said support frame when its coil of wire is exhausted without disturbing the extension of said wire from the other container.

8. Wire supply structure as recited in claim 7 wherein said support frame extends in a generally horizontal plane and said wire containers have vertically extending sides, each pocket having a three point engagement with the container mounted in it to firmly seat such container on said frame.

9. Wire supply structure as recited in claim 7 wherein said support frame has side plates extending along the front side of said one container and the rear side of the other container, said side plates having recesses registering with side openings in the container sides.

10. In a hay baler, a Wire tier, first and second coils of wire each having a lead end and a tail end, a removable tubular container for each coil, each container having outlets at both axial ends, one for the lead end and one for the tail end of the coil therein, the lead end of said first coil extending to said tier and the tail end of the first coil being connected to the lead end of the second coil, a first support on said baler for said first coil, and a second support on said baler for said second coil, said containers being mounted on said supports with the axes of the containers generally parallel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,323,241 Berry Dec. 2, 1919 1,836,593 Harvey Dec. 15, 1931 2,458,318 Tuft Jan. 4, 1949 2,628,714 Schaefer Feb. 17, 1953 

